Erste Group Bank AG (OTCMKTS:EBKDY) Sees Large Decline in Short Interest

Erste Group Bank AG (OTCMKTS:EBKDY) saw a significant decrease in short interest during the month of June. As of June 15th, there was short interest totalling 6,600 shares, a decrease of 32.0% from the May 31st total of 9,700 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 66,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.1 days.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, BNP Paribas raised Erste Group Bank to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, June 13th.

Erste Group Bank Price Performance

Shares of EBKDY traded down $0.11 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $23.68. 20,835 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 34,532. Erste Group Bank has a twelve month low of $16.58 and a twelve month high of $25.97. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $24.19 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $22.29. The firm has a market capitalization of $19.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.98, a P/E/G ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 1.33.

Erste Group Bank (OTCMKTS:EBKDY) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 30th. The financial services provider reported $1.02 EPS for the quarter. Erste Group Bank had a net margin of 14.34% and a return on equity of 11.67%. The company had revenue of $3.03 billion for the quarter. On average, equities research analysts expect that Erste Group Bank will post 3.88 EPS for the current year.

Erste Group Bank Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 28th were given a dividend of $1.416 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 24th. This is a boost from Erste Group Bank’s previous dividend of $0.99. Erste Group Bank’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 25.51%.

About Erste Group Bank

Erste Group Bank AG provides a range of banking and other financial services to retail, corporate, and public sector customers. The company operates through Retail, Corporates, Group Markets, Asset/Liability Management & Local Corporate Center, Savings Banks, and Group Corporate Center segments. It provides mortgage and consumer loans, investment products, current accounts, savings products, and credit cards, as well as cross selling products, such as leasing, insurance, and building society products.